A 3D model capable of efficiently simulating nonlinear gravity wave dynamics has been developed and has shown that the dynamics of wave breaking in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere, or mesopause region, is inherently three-dimensional in nature. The PIs propose to modify this model to more accurately simulate conditions in the mesopause region, and then couple the dynamical model to a chemical airglow model for the purpose of studying the effects of nonlinear gravity wave motions on mesopause region airglow. The coupled gravity wave and airglow model will have the ability to treat the case of time-dependent chemistry and will be able to simulate the effects of gravity waves on several different mesopause region emissions. The model can then be used to strengthen the role of airglow observations in understanding the dynamics of the mesopause region. A comparison will be made between the model results and the results of observations and linear theories.
